BY SUNNY COWELL

In print | November 8, 2007

On Sunday, Nov. 4, the Grammy-nominated Imani Winds performed in the Lang Concert Hall as part of the Orchestra 2001 concert series. The group gave an astounding performance to a full and enthusiastic audience. Imani Winds bring a fresh edge to traditional wind quintet repertoire with the fusion of European, African and Latin American music. Imani Winds consists of five talented musicians, Valerie Coleman on flute, Toyin Spellman-Diaz on oboe, Mariam Adam on clarinet, Jeff Scott on horn and Monica Ellis on bassoon. The group has an extensive touring schedule nationally and internationally, and recently performed in Atlanta, Chicago, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Washington, D.C.

Imani Winds opened the French music themed concert with Eugene Bozza’s “Scherzo” (1905-1991). Next, they played the famous and very melodic “Le Tombeau de Couperin” by Maurice Ravel (1875-1937). They finished the first half of the program with “Scherzo” by Cesar Franck (1822-1890), arranged by Geoffrey Emerson.

There was a diverse audience comprised of Swarthmore students and community members that have been supporting the college for years. One couple, Ken and Eleanor Hiebert, parents of biology professor Sarah Hiebert Burch, has been supporting the Orchestra 2001 concert series since 1993.

Eva Amesse ‘11 said, “I loved how they interacted with each other” in reference to the group’s visible sense of unity expressed on stage while they played. Fumiko Egawa ‘11, who had previously heard about the group from a friend, was also very impressed with the new level of energy Imani Winds brought to the stage. Many audience members talked about the group’s visual stimulation and how Imani Winds seemed to have a musical conversation and unity while they played.

Imani Winds began the second half of the concert with Mozart’s “Divertimento” in B flat Major (1756-1791). The group ended the performance with the beautiful and very rhythmic World Premier of Concerto “Afro-Cuban” for Wind Quartet and Orchestra composed by Imani Winds’ own Valerie Coleman. Orchestra 2001 joined the group in performing this piece. When writing this composition, Coleman built upon the instrumentation of Mozart’s famous “Sinfonia Concertante,” which features a wind quartet. The work has three movements: Afro, Vocalise and Danza. Each movement has a tribal and spiritual essence incorporating improvisation and authentic Afro-Cuban percussion instruments. Imani Winds finished the performance with a bang to deafening applause as well as a standing ovation from the audience. The group indulged the audience again with an encore of “Umoja,” one of the group’s standard pieces. Overall, Imani Winds gave both a visually and aurally enticing performance that was well received by the audience. A reception in the lobby followed the concert where audience members could meet with the artists.

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